Why REAL Returns Matter

Let’s face it, portfolio return measurement is a big part of the investment management game we all play. While everyone’s return bogey tends to be a little different – some chase after the S&P 500 return, while other pursue returns based on fixed-income benchmarks like the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index – we all tend to take periodic stock of where we stand financially. It’s important, however, to always understand just what those return numbers mean – and what they don’t mean.